MAY 1, 2025 - After Bracebridge residents learned in 2019 that Muskoka Royale College (MRC) had applied to the Town of Bracebridge to rezone 443 acres of open land to build a sprawling international boarding school, South Bracebridge Environmental Protection Group (SBEPG) was formed and started working to ensure that this ecologically important land was protected.  With your support we have been fighting to save this Natural Heritage land – land that is home to wetlands, endangered species and a forest that would be cleared of 30,000-50,000 trees should the school be built - ever since.In October 2020 scores of concerned residents, SBEPG representatives, and experts in multiple fields, spoke at a Bracebridge Town Council public meeting to discuss the MRC proposal and ask the Town to require important environmental studies. 

This request for a study to determine if this site was a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) (entitling it to enhanced protections), and to assess the Species at Risk on the site was supported by over 5300 petition signatures. 
However, the Town Council and the District of Muskoka approved the rezoning and Official Plan Amendment in the Spring of 2021 – without requiring the studies. The MRC would go ahead unless challenged. 
So after legal consultations and with your help, SBEPG challenged the Town’s approval of the rezoning and Official Plan Amendment (OPA) by applying to the Ontario Land Tribunal to appeal the Town’s decisions.  The hearing started in September of 2021 and continued in January 2022.   
In the meantime, SBEPG arranged for an Ontario Wetland Evaluation Survey to be undertaken which confirmed what many had already believed,  that the site is indeed a Provincially Significant Wetland.   In July 2023 it was officially listed as such in Ontario’s Geohub as the South Bracebridge Wetlands. (link below).
https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/datasets/5216a770ef684d2fae8bcc13ee9c4357_15/explore?location=45.172972%2C-79.406994%2C13.00
​
In October 2023, in a disappointing result, the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) upheld the rezoning and OPA, but the OLT did stipulate some important conditions for the MRC.  Larger buffer setbacks were required for the wetlands and the completion of Environmental Impact Assessments of each of the 5 build sites was required before development could proceed. It was progress, but not enough.  
Being advised by legal counsel that the OLT decision contained three major errors of law, in November 2023 SBEPG filed a Motion for Leave to Appeal the OLT decision at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.  
Last week we were advised by the court that they will not hear our appeal. This essentially ends our ability to contest the Town of Bracebridge Rulings to date. This is obviously disappointing,  but not surprising given other recent OLT rulings in the current political environment.

In the current political framework, it is extremely unlikely that a large international school could be built. As such, we are hopeful that but not overly concerned about the original proposal and the approvals granted by the Town of Bracebridge will not be acted upon at this time. However, this large and beautiful piece of land remains a part of the Bracebridge core and we believe that It will be important to maintain watch on any new proposal that may be considered by the Town of Bracebridge.  We also feel that this wetland should be noted in the Town of Bracebridge Official Plan as other municipalities have acknowledged.   We encourage you to provide input to the Official Plan requesting that the wetland be noted in the OP.

The Western Bypass
About 20 years ago, the District of Muskoka, in conjunction with the town of Bracebridge, set to establish corridors for bypassing downtown Bracebridge, as Muskoka became more congested.. One of the alternatives, called the Western Bypass, was to go through the middle of the South Bracebridge Wetlands that we have been trying to protect.
The road is a confusing  issue for everyone.  Could the Town and the District approve a school with a Highway planned to run right through it?  Could the developer build around a highway?  Could the Province support a road to be built through a Significant Wetland?  Why is this corridor part of the Bracebridge Official plan? And finally, the environmental studies that allowed for the bypass to be “approved" have expired and current law (normally, in the absence of an OLT ruling to permit the same) prohibits building on a Provincially Significant Wetland. It is not clear that the Western bypass will ever be built, but it still remains a part of the Bracebridge Official Plan.  Bracebridge is amending its Official Plan and we encourage you to let them know that you are not in support of the Western Bypass being part of the Official Plan when the opportunity arises. The Northern Bypass is a preferred route as it relies on Highway 11 to link Port Carling and other Northern Communities with the South and avoids building through a Wetland and building a new bridge across the Muskoka River.
Basically, it is unfathomable to have this highway built, but it remains part of the Official Plan. But sometimes things do not make sense to the community, but are supported by the developers and politicians for their own reasons
What Now
SBEPG was formed to seek to protect the South Bracebridge Wetlands.  We are very proud of the work we have done, with the support of the community, to seek to protect the wetland during this 5 year challenge.  We are particularly proud of the fact that we were able to ensure that the South Bracebridge Wetlands were and are now properly recognized as Provincially Significant, and hope this recognition will provide additional protection to the wetlands going forward. We appreciate the support that the community has provided. 
Because of the proximity of the South Bracebridge Wetlands to the Stephens Bay Community, the Stephens Bay Association executive has agreed to continue to monitor the Bracebridge town plan and any proposals for developing this subject lands as well as any proposal to build a bypass of the town of Bracebridge
FEBRUARY 1, 2024 - In the small town of Bracebridge, 442 acres of Provincially Significant wetlands and environmentally sensitive lands are slated for extensive and destructive development.  But we’re not giving up on our continued fight to protect this important ecosystem. We have launched a leave to appeal of the decision of the Ontario Land Tribunal to save the wetlands and its flora, fauna and function in the watershed.  Although the OLT ruled in the developers favor we have some wins in that the wetland buffer has increased as per our requests and more environmental studies by the developer must be completed prior to development.  We continue to move forward to overturn the decision of the Member of the Ontario Land Tribunal and stop development.  

We are also ecstatic to announce that your funds helped us to get an Ontario Wetlands Evaluation which resulted in the wetlands being provincially designated on June 23, 2023.  The ecologist evaluated 238.3 hectares (588.9 acres). The now named South Bracebridge Provincially Significant Wetlands themselves are 148.5 hectares (367.0 acres) extending throughout the 442 acre development site and beyond into adjacent lands.

The environmental sensitivity of this property is not news. It is home to 204 documented species on the subject lands, comprising 20 Species At Risk and 7 endangered and/or threatened species (Endangered Species Act of Ontario) including: Blanding’s Turtles, Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes, Barn Swallows, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Least Bitterns and Bank Swallows. The destruction of these sensitive lands and identified species at risk will change the Muskoka landscape forever. 
The Bracebridge Town Council and the District of Muskoka FAILED to ask for proper studies including an Economic Viability Study, Character and Compatibility Study, Ontario Wetlands Evaluation Systems Study, Species at Risk Study and Impact Study on Social Services.  We were instrumental with the help of the public in securing one study the public continued to ask for through a petition, letters and public meetings, an Ontario Wetlands Evaluation!   You, our supporters, we could not have done this without your help!  Thank you!

If we don’t continue the fight to preserve these wetlands, forests and endangered species they will be lost to to all of us and to all future generations – lost to multi-story buildings, parking lots and paved roads and maybe even a future bypass highway.  Lost to a double ice rink, a swimming pool, soccer fields – all private facilities. The developer's own ecologist for Muskoka Royale ADMITTED in the first phase of the hearing that the schools, dormitories, driveways, parking lots and sports facilities will necessitate the destruction of 36,000 – 50,000 trees and destroy the vegetation on an area of 28 hectares (approx. 69 acres), equivalent to thirty-three CFL football fields.  Marshes and waterways that support wildlife and prevent flooding will be destroyed.  Furthermore, paving over wetlands is detrimental to spring run-off absorption. Muskoka has seen an increase in devastating flooding in the last 15 years and our homes, properties and the environment are in serious jeopardy.  With serious climate change concerns at the forefront, we must protect Muskoka.

We continue in our efforts to protect this wetland area from development in cottage country!  We need to make sure that there is no development on and near the South Bracebridge Provincially Significant wetlands, forests and surrounding lands as this will irreversibly destroy them.  As land stewards we are to protect and preserve these wetlands, species at risk and the natural lands.

With cuts to the environmental protections in Ontario by the current government, it is all too imperative that we protect Muskoka's beauty, natural heritage, endangered species, wetlands and forests so that those who wish to visit this "Land Between" can enjoy it for years to come...a precious gem for the future for generations to come. 
​
Over 50,000 trees, wetlands, endangered species could be lost forever!  Imagine the carbon lost as well and this climate change disaster...in cottage country.

This is not good planning to develop and construct a massive private boarding school and summer camp on this environmentally sensitive forest and complex Provincially significant wetland close to the shores of Lake Muskoka. 
October 21, 2022

** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Town Admits it was Wrong in Massive Private School OLT Hearing Town Planner Admits 15 metre Buffer is a Mistake – Hearing Adjourns to January 2023 Bracebridge

A dramatic turn of events highlighted the end of the first phase of the Ontario Land Tribunal’s appeal of the proposed massive Muskoka Royale private school that, if built, would be the largest in Ontario. The South Bracebridge Environmental Protection Group Inc. (“Bracebridge Wetlands”) has appealed the Town of Bracebridge’s approval of the school location in a 179 hectare (approx. 442 acres) ecosystem covered in forest and significant wetlands.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, the ecologist for the Town of Bracebridge, Dr. Andrea Smith, reversed herself under heavy cross-examination, admitting that it was preferable to have a uniform 30 metre buffer protecting the numerous wetlands on the 179 hectare (approx. 442 acres) site. She admitted in her evidence she could not find scientific literature justifying either a 15 metre buffer, or the proposed 30 metre “average” buffer, which is not regularly recommended by ecologists in Ontario, and recommended changing the proposed by-law under appeal.

As a result, the Town’s planner Mr. Holmes admitted under cross-examination that the Town would no longer be supporting the requested 15 metre buffer to protect significant environmental features like wetlands and wildlife habitat – a major victory for environmentalists.

Under cross-examination by legal counsel David Donnelly, the ecologist for Muskoka Royale Mr. Gord Nielsen admitted that the schools, dormitories, driveways, parking lots and sports facilities will necessitate the destruction of 36,000 – 50,000 trees and destroy the vegetation on an area of 28 hectares (approx. 69 acres), equivalent to thirty-three CFL football fields.

“We’re thrilled with the results of the hearing so far and gratified that the truth has finally come out – 15 metre buffers are not acceptable for sensitive wetlands in Muskoka, as we’ve been saying to the Town all along”, said Michael Appleby of Bracebridge Wetlands. 2

“We’re also extremely frustrated that it took an appeal and heavy cross-examination of these witnesses to speak the truth to the Town – there’s never been any scientific literature of practice of using small buffers in Ontario. That should have been the Town’s position from the beginning, not dragged out of their witnesses on the last day of their evidence, we’re paying for these witnesses”, he added.

The unevaluated wetlands on the site are now the subject of a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNRF”) review, as Bracebridge Wetlands has long suspected they are Provincially Significant Wetlands. Despite numerous requests from Bracebridge Wetlands for this Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (“OWES”), the Town refused, even though the Ontario Government’s Natural Heritage Reference Manual, which states, “the planning authority [Town] should ensure a wetland evaluation is undertaken”.

Under cross-examination, the wetland expert for Muskoka Royale admitted he thought the wetlands on site are Provincially Significant Wetlands. Inexplicably, despite being one of Bracebridge’s largest ever developments, Town Council did not have any evidence of how the loss of so many trees and vegetative cover would be consistent with the climate crisis, which every expert has called to date “an existential threat” to our planet. Under cross-examination, the planner for the Town admitted there was “no documentation” concerning climate adaptation, resiliency or mitigation provided to Council before it made its decision to approve the massive complex. On June 29, 2021, Bracebridge Council declared a “Climate Emergency”, and further formally committed to “adding a climate action perspective on all decision-making, large and small”.

“Provincial policy and the Official Plans of both Bracebridge and the District of Muskoka all have strong policies on combating climate change, but none of these policies or climate change mitigation strategies were presented to either Council, and that is shocking in this day and age”, said David Donnelly, counsel to Bracebridge Wetlands.

“The Town’s own planner stated the development could potentially occur on one Precinct of approximately 10 hectares (approx. 24.7 acres), instead of on five Precincts spread across 28 hectares (approx. 69 acres), saving a lot of ecosystem damage that would also mean children could walk to school instead of taking a shuttle bus. To approve such a massive development, with an extraordinary loss of 3 trees and vegetation without directly addressing climate change and how to do things better, in a more compact development, is a failure by Council and is very disturbing”, Donnelly added.

In a pleasant surprise for residents who care about climate change, Mr. Nielsen testified the proposed “Bracebridge By-pass”, an approved highway that would skirt downtown Bracebridge, would be “destructive” to the Town. Mr. Nielsen is a longtime Bracebridge resident. Residents are hoping the entire property will be saved from the proposed “Five Precinct” school proposal and highway.

The highway, approved by a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment in 2005, is scheduled to pass right through the Elementary School Precinct to be used by school children. Bizarrely, all the experts for Muskoka Royale and the Town were using the wrong map for years, which showed the By-pass avoiding the elementary school Precinct. Under cross-examination, the traffic engineer for Muskoka Royale admitted that the wrong map was being used to calculate road safety measures. Additional experts, including ecologists, servicing engineers, and planners had similarly used the wrong map. The hearing will resume in January 2023, when
Bracebridge Wetlands will call their experts, including a retired MNRF biologist, traffic engineer and planner.

Contacts:
Downloadable Press Release October 19.2022.pdf
File Size: 93 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


PROTECTING MUSKOKA will be your LEGACY!
ONCE DEVELOPED, NEVER THE SAME!
​
HEARING COMMENCED virtually at the Ontario Land Tribunal
on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 and will resume to hear our experts on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10 a.m.

The hearing will resume on January 12, 2023 at 10 a.m. by video hearing.  Expected dates for hearing are January 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18 with the 19th reserved for overflow.  The hearing plan is tentative and subject to change.

Please download the GO TO MEETING APP ahead of time or you may join in using your browser. 
Parties and Participants are asked to log into the video hearing at least 15 minutes before the start of the event to test their video and audio connections.

Public may access the video hearing at this link:

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/914098901

Audio-only telephone line: Toll Free 1-888-299-1889 or +1 (647) 497-9373
Access Code: 914-098-901

The length of the hearing may be shortened as issues are reordered or a settlement is achieved.

Thank you to all who sent in a Participant Statements that were considered at the Case Management Conference of September 22, 2021 and January 26, 2022.  You can read the decisions by each of the tribunal members here:

September 22, 2021 Case Management Conference
January 26, 2022 Case Management Conference

​THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN PROTECTING MUSKOKA's NATURAL HERITAGE. 

Bracebridge's wetlands 

NATURAL SOLUTION, FIRST LINE OF PROTECTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

The importance of wetlands is often overlooked.
Wetlands help to:
  • Control flooding
  • Provide habitat for wildlife
  • Act as a pollution filter protecting our water quality 
  • Absorb carbon to help us fight climate change

Threatened by development

ONTARIO WETLANDS EVALUATION NEEDED

The wetlands of South Bracebridge are currently threatened by a proposed development. This land is suspected to be a provincially significant and complex wetland, but has never been evaluated in order to receive this official classification. 

You asked the Town of Bracebridge to require an Ontario Wetlands Evaluation to determine if the subject wetlands should be protected as significant wetlands.  They denied this request and we appealed on your behalf.

​We can't put wetlands back after they have been destroyed.
​Let's take the time to do this right. 
​"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead